Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

Bowdon.

THis Town of Bowdon takes its Name from our two old Saxon Words, [Bode] which is yet in use with us for a Dwelling or Habitation, and [Don, or Dun] which is as much as a Plain upon a rising Hill, for which we now use the word Down: So that Bodon signsfies as much as, A Town or Dwelling on the Downs: Unless perhaps we write it Boge-don (for so we find it anciently written in Doomsday-book) and then it may denote a Down or Hill by a Bog; at the side whereof, towards Ashley, lieth a great deep Bog.

Hamon de Massy, the first Baron of Dunham-Massy, held this Town of Bodon in the Conqueror's time, under Hugh Lupus then Earl of Chester.

* 1.1Roger Massy of Hale, Son of Geffrey Massy, being possessed of one half of Bodon, sold all his Land in Bodon, to wit, totam medietatem Villae de Bodon, unto Agatha de Massy, for 4 l. 7 s. 0 d. in Money, and two Robes, one for himself, and the other for his Wife: Rendring therefore yearly one Pound of Cummin-seed at the Feast of St. Martin: About the beginning of Henry the Third's Reign. Lib. C. fol. 252. I.

Which Agatha, by another Deed, styling her self Agatha de Theray, gave the same moiety of Bodon to Robert her younger Son, whom she made Heir thereof by consent of Sir Hamon de Massy her eldest Son. Lib. C. fol. 252. k.

Robert de Massy, by the consent of his Wife and Heirs, gave unto Adam de Bowdon two Oxganges of Land in Bowdon; Rendring yearly one Penny upon the Altar of St. Mary of Bowdon, on the Nativity of St. Mary the Virgin (which is the eighth day of September) in perpetual Alms, for the Salvation of the Souls of the said Robert, his Wife, and Ancestors, and of his Heirs, and for the Soul of Matthew de Hale: Sub Hen∣rico tertio. Lib. C. fol. 252. h.

From which time there hath been a Family of Gentlemen of the Bowdons of Bow∣don, who had a fourth part of Bowdon, until Vrian Bowdon of Bowdon, 4 Junii, 7 Eli∣zabethae, sold to William Booth of Dunham-Massy Esquire, certain Parcels of Land in Bow∣don; nec non omnia Messuagia & Terras,—quae habet in Bodon, Hale, & Doneham. And 11 Elizabethae, Thomas Vawdrey of Bodon, and George his Son, sell to Hugh Crosby of Over-Whitley, several Parcels of Land in Bodon (which I conceive Bodon had past away to Vawdrey before) by two Deeds; one dated 25 Octobris, 11 Eliz. and the other dated 28 Junii, 11 Elizabethae. And Hugh Crosby of Over-Whitley sells all those his Lands in Bowdon unto Sir George Booth of Dunham-Massy, for 220 l. which then were in the seve∣ral Holdings of Thomas Vawdrey, Robert Mosse, Thomas Hardy, George Vawdrey, Thomas Nedle, and Alice Hardy Widow: Dated the 16 of April, 8 Jacobi, 1610. The Origi∣nals now in possession of the Lord Delamere of Dunham-Massy.

So that George Lord Delamere hath now one fourth part of Bowdon, 1666.

In the Rental of Dunham-Massy, 3 Hen. 4. Ricardus Massy de Rixton, & Johannes de Bodon, tenent medietatem Villae de Bodon per Servitium Militare, & reddendo per Annum 5 d. Lib. B. pag. 209.

Massy of Rixton's part came after to Holcroft, and (as I have heard) was lately sold

in the Reign of King James, by Sir Thomas Holcroft, unto William Brereton of Ashley Esquire, whose Heirs are now possessed of one other fourth part of Bodon, 1666.

The other moiety of Bodon was given by the Baron of Dunham-Massy to the Priory of Birkenhed in Wirral, about Edw. 1. And after the Dissolution of Abbeys by Hen. 8. it was given to the Bishoprick of Chester with the Church of Bowdon.

In this Town of Bowdon is seated the ancient Parish-Church of Bowdon, seated most pleasantly for Prospect and the Downs. There was a Church here in the Conqueror's time, ibì Presbyter & Ecclesia, cui pertinet dimidia hida, saith Doomsday-book: So that it seems to surmount the time of the Norman Conquest.

Hamon de Massy, Son and Heir of the fourth Hamon, gives to God, the Blessed Vir∣gin Mary, and St. James, and to the Prior and Convent of Birkenhed in Wirral, half an Acre in Dunham-Massy,—together with the Advowson of Bodon-Church, Anno Do∣mini 1278. For in that Year was Richard Massy Sheriff, who is one of the Witnesses. Monasticon Anglicanum, 1 Pars, pag. 484.

After the Dissolution of Abbies, Henry the Eighth erected a new Bishoprick at Chester, 33 Hen. 8. 1541. whereunto (among other things (he gave the Church of Bo∣don, and other Lands late belonging to the Priory of Birkenhed; So that this Church of Bodon hath now the Bishop of Chester for its Patron; and was Dedicated to St. Ma∣ry, as appears by the Deed above-mentioned, whose Wakes, or Dedication-Feast, was celebrated 8 Septembris, being the Nativity of St. Mary; and comprehendeth within its Parish these Villages,—

	The Mize.
	l.	s.	d.
Agden, one half	00	02	00
Bolinton, one half	00	03	00
Dunham-Massy	00	08	00
Bodon	00	10	00
Ashley	01	07	04
Hale	01	12	10
Altrincham	00	10	09
Timperley	00	10	09
Baggiley	00	16	00
Partington	00	06	08
Carington	00	10	09
Ashton supèr Mersey part, to wit, one half	00	07	00
Sum Total is	07	05	01

The Vicarage of Bodon is said to be worth 120 l. per Annum. Our common Pro∣verb is, Every Man is not born to be Vicar of Bodon. The true Reason of the Proverb I cannot affirm.

Charterers in Bodon, 1666.

• Henry Vawdrey of Baggiley.
• Thomas Upton of Prestbury, about five or six Acres; no House.
• Widow Tipping, a Cottage in possession of Margaret Birch Widow.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ex Chartulis Georgii Baro∣nis de Dela∣mere apud Dunham-Massy.